BC-AP Sports Preview Digest

AP

Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Wednesday. A full Sports Digest will be sent at about 3 p.m. EDT:

- PHILADELPHIA - The NFL agreed to remove a $675 million cap on damages from thousands of concussion-related claims after a federal judge questioned whether there would be enough money to cover as many as 20,000 retired players. A revised settlement agreement filed in federal court in Philadelphia also eliminates a provision that barred anyone who gets concussion damages from the NFL from suing the NCAA or other amateur football leagues.

- LONDON - Andy Murray was a man in a hurry. Venus Williams took a while to get going. The defending men's champion and five-time women's winner took different routes to reach the third round at Wimbledon.

- RIO DE JANEIRO - Luis Suarez could become just as awkward for soccer's international organizers to handle as he has been for rival teams at the World Cup.

- RECIFE, Brazil - Jurgen Klinsmann and five American players will have a special moment Thursday when the United States plays a World Cup match against Germany, the nation where they grew up.

- RECIFE, Brazil - Every team that has played in the Amazon rainforest city of Manaus so far in this World Cup has lost its next game - with England, Italy, Cameroon and Croatia going 0-4 after their matches in the muggy conditions. The United States, which settled for a 2-2 draw with Portugal on Sunday, is counting on changing those fortunes when the Americans face three-time champion Germany on Thursday in a Group G finale with a berth in the knockout round on the line.

- RIO DE JANEIRO - The U.S. game against Germany that determines whether the Americans advance at the World Cup will be played during the workday back home. The number of fans watching live sports online has been surging, and Thursday's match figures to set new milestones.

- OMAHA, Neb. - Virginia and Vanderbilt meet in the winner-take-all Game 3 in the College World Series finals. The winner will earn its school's first national championship in baseball.

- NEW YORK - Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker could be the best options for the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 1, but there's plenty more good players available and possibly some appealing trade scenarios in what appears to be a deep NBA draft Thursday night.

- PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired Mike Johnston as the team's new head coach. Johnston replaces Dan Bylsma, who was fired on June 6.